Our Purpose
A free online resource to help educate a wider audience about issues and developments in the cultural restitution debate
About Returning Heritage
Returning Heritage was established in 2019 as a not-for-profit online resource that aims to provide reliable information about cultural restitution. We report on current initiatives and provide an extensive online archive of news about the repatriation of cultural property.
We focus in particular, but not exclusively, on the return of colonial looted artefacts. This is where established legal structures are gradually being superseded by new policies based on moral and ethical considerations. There are other excellent online resources that cover news about Nazi-looted art and spoliation, so this period of illicit seizure is not our principal focus. However, we do monitor and sometimes report on incidents of modern-day trafficking – to help authorities stay alert to the continuing risks they face from organised networks of art traffickers and the damage this inflicts on a nation's cultural heritage.
We aim to be even-handed, focussing on conveying news and information that audiences can use to inform their own judgement about this important debate. But we remain an advocate for fair and just solutions. Sometimes, these solutions point towards the repatriation of objects to their communities of origin. But other solutions also exist. What is important is to ensure that all information is communicated with accuracy and fairness.
We’re not afraid to express our opinions, especially when institutions refuse to face up to the changing role of museums and the expectations of its visitors in the 21st century. Our aim is to help people look beyond the confines of the colonial museum model and to consider whether UK institutions that perpetuate the glorification of these legacies are still appropriate in a global, multi-racial and multi-faith museum community.
We’re always interested in your opinion and feedback. After you’ve read an article, let us know what you think by adding your comments. And please sign up to receive our free email alerts about new articles we think you’ll find of interest. We don’t send them too often and it won’t cost you anything.
Lewis J McNaught
Managing Editor
With a degree in History of Art and Archaeology from the University of Bristol, Lewis spent five years in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum, developing a special interest in ancient and modern sculpture. The following three years were spent in New York as principal of an art consultancy company, before returning to the UK as director of a leading multi-product asset management company, Gartmore Investment Management Ltd in the City of London. He returned full-time to the world of fine art in 2007 as CEO of Mall Galleries in London SW1 (home of the Federation of British Artists), before establishing Returningheritage.com in 2019. Lewis has written articles for magazines, newspapers and journals, appears on national television and radio channels and gives presentations to different audiences on restitution issues.
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